With the election qualifying deadline still several weeks away, Hamilton County Commission races for Districts 7 and 8 are already heating up.
So far, Republicans Perry Perkins, Phil Smart and Sabrena Turner are running in District 7 as well as Democrats Pat Fountain and John R. Taylor Sr. District 7 incumbent and Hamilton County Commission Chairman Larry Henry is running for circuit court clerk.
In District 8, Republicans Curtis Adams, incumbent Tim Boyd and current East Ridge Mayor Brent Lambert are running.
District 9 incumbent Chester Bankston is at this point running for re-election unopposed.
The official qualifying deadline is Feb. 20 and additional candidates can qualify up to that point. Primaries will be May 6, with the election Aug. 7. For more information visit elect.hamiltontn.gov.
Check East Hamilton Weekly for more information about specific candidates in Districts 7, 8 and 9 after the upcoming qualifying date.